I've yet to come across any Japanese terms of endearment for young children. Here at home, I find myself calling the kids I work with things like sweetie and baby. They're all kindergarten age or less, and most of them like to be spoken to that way. In Japan, would it be appropriate to call the children things like that if you were their teacher? And what are some of the Japanese terms other than "chan" and "kun" someone might use?
I'd appreciate any help.

If you see a little boy crying it would be perfectly normal to ask him:

「ぼく、どうしたの？」

As to the original question, there really are no equivalents to "sweetie" and "honey" and such in Japanese. Even ojousan and boku are not used the same as those words. Usually teachers just call children by their names, often shortened and with "chan" or "kun" added: Ken-chan, Ma-kun, Mi-chan, or whatever.

Recently it has become politically correct even at primary schools for teachers to address children, both boys and girls, by their full names using さん (san): Taro-san, Hanako-san. I personally think it was fine the way it was.

Last edited by Oyaji on Wed 10.04.2006 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

I wouldn't say "feminine" necessarily, because men do say it, but even men usually say it in a very gentle, friendly way, at least in my experience. Even when reproving, "boku" sounds much less harsh than "kimi" or "omae".